Griquas claimed an exciting 32-30 bonus-point victory against the Free State XV, while there were also wins for the Lions, Pumas, Sharks XV, Border and Boland in round four of the Provincial Rugby Challenge.
In a back-and-forth battle in Bloemfontein, wing Ederies Arendse scored a last-gasp try as Griquas snatched a thrilling two-point away win over Free State. Both teams ran in four tries apiece, but the extra conversion by Griquas proved the difference. Free State are the only side in the central section yet to win a game so far, but they have secured two losing bonus points from all their matches.
In the other match in this section, flank Jacques Vermeulen bagged a hat-trick in the Sharks' one-sided 32-5 win against the Leopards in Margate.
The Lions extended their lead at the top of the north section log with a narrow 28-27 defeat of the Valke in Johannesburg. Both teams scored four tries, but Shaun Reynolds kicked a 79th minute penalty to turn the result in the Lions' favour.
The Pumas inflicted a 64-8 defeat on the Welwitchias to move up to third in the north section standings. The winners ran in 10 tries, including a brace from wing Ruwellyn Isbell.
In the south section, Divan Nel kicked five penalties as the Boland Cavaliers beat the SWD Eagles in George and the Border Bulldogs pipped hosts EP Kings 20-17.
Free State XV (30) – Tries: JW Jonker, Joseph Dweba, Junior Pokomela, Gerhardus Olivier. Conversions: Marco Mason, Marnus van der Merwe. Penalties: Mason (2).
Griquas (32) – Tries: Tertius Kruger, Renier Botha, Enver Brandt, Ederies Arendse. Conversions: George Whitehead (3). Penalties: Whitehead (2).
Sharks XV (32) – Tries: Jacques Vermeulen (3), John-Hubert Meyer, Kerron van Vuuren. Conversions: Benhard Janse van Rensburg (2). Penalty: Janse van Rensburg.
Leopards (5) – Try: Tapiwa Mafura.
Golden Lions (28) – Tries: Pieter Jansen (2), James Venter. Conversions: Siyabonga Masuku (2). Penalties: Masuku, Shaun Reynolds (2).
Valke (27) – Tries: Friedle Olivier, Penalty try, Jan-Frederick Enslin. Conversions: Christiaan Rust (2). Penalties: Rust (2).
Pumas (64) – Tries: Ruan Nel, Frank Herne, Ruwellyn Isbell (2), Kobus Marais, Carel Greeff, Emile Temperman, Devon Williams, Brian Shabangu, Sias Ebersohn. Conversions: Kobus Marais (3), Ebersohn (4).
Welwitschias (8) – Try: Lesley Klim. Penalty: Theuns Kotze.
SWD Eagles (8) – Try: John Welthagen. Penalty: Leighton Eksteen.
Boland Kavaliers (15) – Penalties: Divan Nel (5).
EP Kings (17) – Tries: Gregory Jackson, Stefan Ungerer, Brandon Brown. Conversions: Garrick Mattheus.
Border Bulldogs (20) – Tries: Ntabeni Dukisa, Michael Makase, Yanga Xakalashe. Conversions: Oliver Zono. Penalty: Zono.
Photo: Louis Botha/Gallo Images
